Cleaning device



R. C. EPSTEIN CLEANING DEVICE AFeb. 21, 1939V Filed Jlily 2, 1957 2 Sheefs-Sheet l NVENTOR Rol Epsein,

ATTORN EYS Feb. 2l, 1939. R. c. EPSTEIN 2,147,769

CLEANING DEVICE Filed July 2, 1957 2 sheets-sheet 2 mph @.Ey

ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. Z1, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to devices for cleaning and polishing enameled or painted surfaces of motor vehicles and is particularly adapted to cleaning the surfaces of the bodies, hoods and t fenders.

There have been in use, heretofore, two generally accepted methods; of cleaning motor vehicles; rst, a washing operation in which copious quantities of water are applied to the surfaces lp() .to `be cleaned by means of a hose or sponge and the surfaces then de-watered by means of a chamois or cloth and then rubbed with a dry cloth to restore the voriginal lustre and nish, and second, the utilization of a dry cloth usually L5 chemically impregnated or treated in an endeavor to do away with the necessity for the application of water or other liquid to the vehicle body, hood and fenders.

The first of Vthese methods is unavailable to 20 the average car owner as it involves an arduous', tedious and dirty job requiring the donning of special clothing and footgear and the prices for such services, demanded by professional car washers, place this method beyond the means of 25 the average motorist,

The second method is ineffective for the purposes intended, in that it does not readily remove dirt or grime adhering to the surfaces of the vehicle and, in failing to adequately loosen and e remove dirt, grime, or grit, rain spots or other spots from the surfaces without the exercise of excessive pressure on the surface by the operator, promotes scratching and marring of thesurfaces being treated.

3,5 The objects of the present invention are to provide `a simple, inexpensive device available to any car owner that will enable such owner to effectivelyclean and polish his car witha minimum of effort and expenditure of time and which may 4-0 be safely used by the car owner in his usual street clothes without the necessity of donning special clothing and footgear.

Another object is to combine in a small,l handy and inexpensive tool for the purposes referred to, means for loosening and removing adhering or imbedded dirt, grit or grime from the surfaces being treated and for polishing such surfaces without scratching or marring them.

50 A further object is to provide a device of the kind described in which the dirt collecting and polishing instrumentality may readily be removable for washing or for replacement.

I have illustrated two embodiments of my in- 55 vention in the attached drawings; wherein,

(Cl. ldd-131) Fig. 1 `is a top plan View of the device with a portion broken away;

Fig, 2 is a bottom plan View;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the device;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section illus- 5 trating the action of the fiuid admission valve to `the pressure chamber;

Fig, 5 is a perspective view of the removable dirt collecting and polishing instrumentality;

Fig. 6 is `a vertical section through a modified lo form of device according to the invention; and

l isla section on line 'i-'I kof Fig. 6.

I have found that means for applying very small quantities of liquid in the form Vof vapor er fine spray -to the surface to be treated if com- 1,5Y bined with a rubbing o-r `polishing instrumentab ity will efficiently remove all adhering dirt, grit or ,grime from the surface `and dries and polishes the surface in one operation. The operator of the "device or tool in which said means is embodied is relieved -`of the necessity of putting down or changingthe tool during the entire process of washing or cleaning his car.

En `the drawings:

`It ,designates the body of the device which may besubstantially elliptical or tear drop shape in plan. and Il .designates a handle suitably Secured thereto, as by means of set screws i2. The handle II maybe of metal, `die c ast, or of Wood or molded plastic and is preferably provided with or formed with a cylindrical vopening or space therethrough, as at i3. The space i3 constitutes a ,reservoir f or the reception of water or other liquid `for spraying onto Athe surface to be cleaned. Cooperating with the spray devices isa dirt col- 3; lectingandsurface,polishing instrumentality I4. This may be Vmade of any suitable material such as fahricor yarnand is designed in the operation of the device to follow the spray to collect the moistened dirt andgrimefrom the surface being operated upon 4and upon lsubsequent rubbing of the surface therewith to dry and polish the surface. This collecting and polishing member may be in substantially elliptical form, as shown, and may he provided with a rim portion I5 which 45 rim portion may have a tension spring It embedded therein. This spring I 8 and the member Iii cooperate with grooves Il formed in the handle for securing the member I4 to the handle and body of the device. The member lli may be readily removed from the device or replaced thereon by stretching the rim I5 with its embedded spring.

The reservoir I3 is provided with suitable spray means. As shown, the member I4 is provided 55 With a suitable open portion I8, and I9 designates a spray nozzle extending from the body I0 thereinto. 20 designates a collar of rubber or suitable pliable material surrounding the nozzle and extending therebelow to protect the surface being treated from contact with the nozzle when pressure is applied to the device in moving it back and forth on the surface being treated. 2| designates a sleeve, preferably of metal, in the cylinder I3, and 22 designates a piston or plunger on rod 23. 24 designates a guide for rod 23 and 25 designates a plunger cap adapted to be actuated by a finger or thumb of the operator. 26 designates a spring for returning the rod and plunger cap to initial position and 21 designates a washer or gasket for preventing leakage of fluid along rod 23. 28 designates a flap valve for permitting liquid to flow from the reservoir I3 into the pressure chamber below the plunger 22. This valve opens as pressure is applied to the plunger and closes when the pressure is relieved. 29 designates a screw for closing the filling opening for the reservoir. The piston member 22 may be of the conventional leather cup type so that movement of the piston from right to left as seen in Figs. 3 and 4 will cause the piston to expand and firmly engage the chamber Walls, while movement from left to right as seen in those gures, against the resistance offered by the fluid to the right of the piston, Will cause the piston to contract sufficiently to permit escape of liquid past the piston in a direction from right to left.

To operate the device, the Wing screw 29 is removed and the reservoir I3 filled with water or a desired chemical solution through the opening 30. The screw 29 being placed back in position to close the opening, the operator grasps handle II with his hand and, approaching the device to the surface of the vehicle to be cleaned, with pressure of a thumb or ringer onto plunger cap 25, sprays a small amount of the liquid onto the surface to be cleaned. The operator then rubs the device across or along the surface to be cleaned and the fabric pad I4 picks up or absorbs the loosened dirt or foreign matter and continued rubbing therewith dries the surface and imparts a polish thereto.

In the modified form of device shown in Fig. 6, 3| designates the handle of the device and 32 the surface polishing instrumentality. 33 designates a reservoir constructed of metal or other suitable material. 34 designates a tube extending from the reservoir to a point adjacent the cap or head 35 of the device and terminating exteriorly thereof in a discharge orifice 36. 31 designates an elastic bulb preferably set in a recess 38 in handle 3|. 39 designates a tube connecting the interior of bulb 31 with head 35 and 40 designates a discharge opening in head 35, positioned to direct a stream of air from the bulb 31 across the discharge orifice 36 of tube 34. The action of the stream of air causes a partial vacuum at discharge orifice 3S inducing a discharge of fluid through tube 34. Particles of fluid emerging from the discharge end of tube 34 through orifice 36 are projected in the form of fine mist or spray by the air stream and are deposited on the surface to be cleaned.

4| designates the body plate of the device. As shown, the reservoir 33 may be provided with Wing lugs 42 to facilitate removal and may be screw threaded into cap 43 connected to head 35. The tube 34 is preferably bent as shown to provide a portion thereof in the reservoir above either its entrance or exit ends so as to prevent unauthorized leakage of liquid from the discharge end thereof.

In whatever type of spray mechanism employed, the piston-spray device, the vaporzer or the atomizer may be regulated either by means of its design or in operation so as to deliver small quantities of an atomized, vaporized or nebulized liquid to the surface to be treated suflicient to loosen any adhering dirt, grit or foreign matter on the surface but not sufficient to saturate the drying and polishing instrumentality, so as to interfere with its effectiveness or action. The drying and polishing instrumentality is preferably of such form and size as to absorb all of the dirt, grit and foreign matter normally present on the body, hood and fender surfaces of a motor car.

In the removable construction illustrated in Fig. l, after the device has been used to clean and polish a car the dirt collecting and polishing instrumentality may be readily removed from the tool and washed or rinsed out and then dried preparatory to being returned to Work to clean and polish the car again. In case the dirt col lecting and polishing instrumentality becomes worn or so impregnated with dirt, grease, etc., as to resist renovation by ordinary washing methods, the device may be readily replaced by a new one at small expense.

What is claimed is:

In a device for cleaning and polishing the surfaces of vehicles, the combination in a unitary structure of means for spraying small quantities of liquid in mist form to defined areas of said surfaces and a proximate absorbing body for collecting moistened dirt or foreign matter from said surfaces for substantially drying said surfaces and for imparting a polish to the same, the absorbing body being disposed behind said dened areas with respect to the normal direction of movement of the device, a handle means disposed on said absorbing body and extending longitudinally thereof, and a liquid reservoir formed in the forward portion of said handle means for supplying liquid for said spraying means.

RALPH C. EPSTEIN. 

